Improvement in hand or sad irons



. l. ROBERTS Hand or Sad-I9' Patented May 19, 1874.

UNITED STATES JOHN ROBERTSON, OF NITSHILL, NORTH BRITAIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'HAN-D OR SAD IRONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,160, dated May 19, 1874 application filed May 4, 1874.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jol-1N ROBERTSON, of Nitshill, in the county of Renfrew, North Britain, have invented Improvements in Hand or Sad Irons, and in apparatus connected therewith, of which the following is a specification:

j This invention relates to improved hand or sad irons and apparatus wherewith the same are or may be used for finishing textile fabrics, or articles of apparel composed of such fabrics.

Figure 1 on the sheet of drawings hereunto appended is a front elevation of the complete apparatus for dressing or finishing textile fabrics or articles composed thereof. Fig. 2 is a partial section and side elevation of the same at right angles to Fig. l.

The pressure of air is produced by the movements of the operator, who stands upon the upper leaf of the bellows A. This upper leaf is hinged and rocks upon a central ridge or partition of wood-or other material. (Shown in section at Fig. 2.) The two tlap-valves a b are for the admission ofthe atmosphere into the bellows. Pipes or nozzles B are inserted into the under part of the bellows, which are connected to the reservoir C by iiexible pipes D. The reservoir O is provided with a safety flapvalve, c, to which is attached a checkstring, el, secured to the lower part of the reservoir. To maintain a constant pressure of air in the reservoir, weights E are placed upon the top of the reservoir. A pipe, F, is provided for the passage of the air from the reservoir O, and from thence a flexible tube, G, is led up to one branch of the double cock H. (Shown more particularly on an enlarged scale at Figs. 3, 4, and 5.) To the other branch of this double oockis attached a tube, I, through which is conductedgas or other inammable vapor. After passing the regulatingcocks J K, Figs. 4 and 5, the two branches converge into one. From this single branch a flexible tube, L,leads to the iron, the tube L being of sullicient length to allow the iron free range over the whole length and breadth of the table M. Vithin the tube L a smaller tube, N, is situated, as shown at Figs. 3, 4, and 5, through which the gas or other inflammable vapor is led after passing through the regulating-cock K. The air-passage is the space marked ebe reach a double branch and regulating-cocks upon the pipe O. The nozzle O is secured to a projection on the hand or sad iron by a box-- nut, l). Achamber, Q, Figs. 7 and 8, is formed in the upper part of the iron, which is made easily accessible for inspection by a cover, B, secured to the top of the iron by pins S. Through the bottom of this chamber Q, and into another chamber, T, in the lower part of the iron, are led any number of jets or burners U, at the lower extremity of which combustion takes place. To enable the operator to ignite the gases issuing from these jets or burners U, as well as to allow free ingress of air and egress of the gases generated by combustion in the chamber T, holes V are formed in the outer shell of the iron.

The mode of operation is as follows: The pressure of air generated by the bellows A nds its way through the tubes D to the reservoir C, which is thus filled. The check-string cl is of such a length that when the reservoir O has risen to its full height, and can contain no more air with safety, the check-strin g d acts upon the safety flap-valve e, and, by pulling it down, opens it and allows the surplus air to escape. The weights E, placed upon the reservoir O, keep up a constant and equable pressure of air in the reservoir, which is conducted by the tube Gr to one of the branches on the double cock. (Shown more particularly at Figs. 3, 4, and 5.) On passing the cock J, the air is conducted through the space marked e until it reaches the nozzle O, where it is mixed with the gas or other inflammable vapor, which is led through the cock K, and thence through the smaller tube N. A mixture or combination of gas and air is thus formed before issuing from the burners, and this mixture or combination is forced into the chamber Q, and thence through the jets or burners U, at the lower extremity of which combustion takes place. rIhe jets of flame playing upon the bottom ofthe iron heat it; but in order to diffuse the effect of the jets of 'ame as much as possible, broken iire-clay, asbestus, or some such substance is preferred to be placed upon the bottom of the chamber T. The heat may be regulated by means of the cocks J K, (shown particularly at Figs. 3, 4, and 5,) one of which, J, commands the supply of air, While by the other, K, the supply of gas or other infiammable vapor may be regulated.

It is to be understood, that it is not essential to use the improved hand or sad irons in vconnection with the ironing-table and apparatus hereii'ibefore described, as the same may be used-in connection with pipes leading from a Vessel or Vessels containing gas and air under pressuregwhich may be mixed in the Vessels or after leaving them, so that the mixture or combination-'of gas and air under pressure enters and issues from the burners in the iron in a mixed or combined state.

I claim- 1. The combination of the bellows, air-reservoir, table, and one er more hand or sad irons, adapted to connect with. the sources of air and gas supply, as specified, for iinishing textile fabrics, as hereinbefore set forth, and described on the annexed sheet of drawings.

2. In an apparatus for heat-ing sad or hand irons by means of air and gas combined-un der pressure, the combination, With one or more air-reservoirs, of bellows adapted to be actuated by the feet of the operator to supply air to said reservoir, as set forth.

3. The hand or sad iron formed with an internal gas-receiving chamber, having burners leading therefrom for the combustion of the air and gas mixed under pressure, and issuing from the burner in the combined or mixed state, as and for the purposes shown and set forth.

4. The combination, with the hand or sad iron, of air and gas supply tubes, connected with the hand or sad iron, and arranged substantially as described, so that the air and gas supplied by them shall combine or mix under pressure previous to issuing from the burners.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Jenn nonnnrson. [L s] Witnesses:

EDWARD FISHER Burman, JOHN UL ARK. 

